Category: GoogleEarth Map

15. Waihohonu – Whakapapa – Mangaturuturu (RMT 3)

Saturday, February 23: Heavy rain overnight, overcast with drizzle in the morning, becoming fine by midday and a bit of sun in the afternoon

Tramping: 34.5 km

Mangaturuturu Hut (Doc, $15)

The party girls had gone on for a bit last night, but eventually even they were subdued and went through our half bunkroom to theirs and were quiet. Not much in the way of snoring and by 6:30 I was ready to get up and have my breakfast served by hut warden Jaime.

I had won the general prize the night before of identifying the bird on the back of the $20 bill (karearea) and had two pancakes with frozen blackberries, chocolate and maple syrup. Trevor had also gotten a prize (for knowing the exact number of Doc huts in the country: 956), as well as the medical professor, Margarete as it was her birthday, and it was all served at 7:00. The rest was packing and by 8:30 I was ready to go and see what Whakapapa had to offer. Read more…

14. Rangipo – Waihohonu (RMT 2)

Friday, February 22: Somewhat cloudy to begin with, becoming showery and, especially in exposed areas, windy

Tramping: 13.3 km

Waihohonu Hut (Doc, Great Walks, $36)

Sleep was unusually fragmented, possibly because the pillow kept on deflating. There was some snoring from the other two male inhabitants but it was survivable, possibly due to the high winds that were buffeting the hut./p>

It was also quite a bright night because of the full moon. Around dawn I was awake for the final time and noticed oranges and reds of the impending sunrise, and decided it was good enough for a timelapse. As I set my camera up I was soon joined by Trevor & then Jeff & Rachael, and it really was only 6:30. Read more…

13. Waitonga Falls Carpark – Rangipo (RMT 1)

Thursday, February 21: Sunny to begin with, a couple of sprinkles and then some moderate showers

Tramping: 17.4 km

Rangipo Hut (Doc, $15)

Alan was up very early & off to work, long before I had to get up, but at around 7:00 I thought it would be enough time to throw stuff into the suitcase and complete packing for the tramp.

About the only things that weren’t up to scratch were that the compass hasn’t been calibrated, and it looks like I put in two hairbrushes; also the tripod should have been stripped of the gimbal attachment & the straps.

All was packed up & Jo and A. were on their way when I went out to the street to await my chauffeur, and Alan was already on his way back home. My driver had a couple of tips for me and we were soon at the drop-off point. He checked with his office about the return details so everything is in the green zone. Read more…

11. Tieke Kainga – Pipiriki (WRJ 6) – Ohakune

Tuesday, February 19: A little cloudy to begin with, becoming fine & hot again, with a few clouds reappearing towards evening

Kayaking: 22.6 km

Arawa Lodge

There really was no great rush for people to get up this morning, but all of them were faster than I was. All of the eggs, salami, crackers, coffee and sugar had been used up, the muesli bars were to follow for lunch. Lent some string to Ines so that she could attach her glasses to something (she had lost one of her contacts), and the string was returned later in the day. I had all of my stuff packed up so that I required only one trip to the boat, and exchanged a word or two with Boyd about my upcoming hike of the Matemateoanga for which he offered me to stay the night @ Tieke. Will try.

I had tried recharging the “dead” batteries with what was left on the powerbank and hoped I had enough power for today, even though they weren’t full. Today’s plan was to get as far as Ngaporo and see what the final rapids might do to the gimbal, have a break there and decide about further deployment. Read more…

8. Whakahoro – Ohauora (WRJ 3)

Saturday, February 16: The valley and surrounds were covered in fog which soon lifted; a couple of clouds, otherwise hot & sunny, stronger easterlies

Kayaking: 25.8 km

Ohauora Campiste (Doc, $20)

It seemed like no one wanted to go to bed last night until I suggested closing the windows to the bunkroom, then we were all tucked in for what was going to be a cold night after all.

And no one seemed willing to get up until it was well & truly light after 7:00. I started boiling some water then taking some photos of the fog enshrouded environs. Within a while all were up and about, Geraint & Paulina were going to call it a day because of Geraint’s cold, Kikki and Julian wanted breakfast in the Blue Duck Café. When you think of it, $4 for a shower, $20 for the meal and whatever it was that breakfast cost, it was a fairly good deal. Read more…

2. Auckland: Orakei Basin, Rangitoto

Sunday, February 10: Completely clear skies very early, a couple of clouds turning up later in the morning & by late afternoon only a few land clouds

Walking: 8.6 km
Kayaking: 14.0 km

Nadia’s

Sleep was quite fragmented and when I was awake at 6:00 I could hear bellbirds. Short contemplation led me to the conclusion that I might record them – or at least attempt to in the quiet of a Sunday morning, so I got out the voice recorder and went downstairs to leave it out on the balcony.

The time needed to be reset on the device (not quite accurately achieved without glasses or a clear mind) but it was recording OK, so that was worth the effort. Slept another hour after that then had to buy some stuff for breakfast before such could be partaken of. Read more…

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